Infection with fungal diseases occurs through close contact with a sick person or his personal belongings. Fungal spores have high viability, they survive even at high or low temperatures, and the ability to infect can persist for many years. A person is likely a carrier of fungal spores, and only if the skin is damaged will the fungal infection turn into a disease.
Fungi can multiply not only on the skin or nails, but also on the insoles of shoes, on wet surfaces, so in shoe stores it is likely to try on shoes only with socks. There is a high possibility of becoming infected with fungal diseases of the feet and toenails in a swimming pool, bathhouse or sauna; this place is an ideal environment for the proliferation of fungi.
Athlete's foot, or mycosis (athlete's foot, favus, microsporia, rubrophytosis, trichophytosis, athlete's foot inguinal), fungal infections of the skin, are accompanied by redness, an inflammatory reaction to the penetration of fungal toxins into the epidermis or dermis.
Fungal diseases of the skin of the feet significantly more often begin in the folds between the toes, where cracks form, the skin peels off, and later begins to turn red and itch. You may suspect foot fungus if you have an unpleasant odor from your feet.
If left untreated, the disease spreads to the sole, where ulcers and rough calluses form. Scratching may lead to suppuration and some secondary infections. If not treated correctly, the disease can last for years.
Onychomycosis is a fungal disease of the toenails. Nails become dull, opaque, and change color to yellow, white, brown or black. The surface of the nail is also uneven, rough, it crumbles or flakes.
A deformed nail can put pressure on the nail bed, often leading to pain when wearing shoes.
Mycoses are varied and numerous; diseases caused by fungi are very contagious. About 500 types of harmful fungi are known to medicine; therefore, a dermatologist must diagnose fungal diseases and toenails in order to prescribe treatment. You will need to take a scraping to find out the type of fungus. Self-medication of fungal infections is often ineffective, and from time to time it can even worsen the course of the disease.
If the fungus is not treated, it will spread to nearby areas of the skin or to the fingernails. In rare cases, pathogens of fungal diseases can spread to the armpits, groin area, chest, belly, lower back, neck, and affect the mucous membranes and internal organs. Fungal toxins are strong allergens and can lead to various allergic reactions.
Mycosis is a very unpleasant disease that brings a lot of discomfort to the patient. The skin that is affected by the fungus peels off, dries out, and various cracks may appear, causing pain. Often, this disease is accompanied by severe scratching.
Just half a century ago, mycosis of the skin on the legs was widely known and widespread; this type of infection was very dangerous, and there was no suitable treatment in those days. Today, specialists have obtained effective medications that can quickly get rid of the disease.
Often, the skin of the soles of the feet, the folds between the toes and the back of the feet are susceptible to mycosis. If you do not pay attention to proper treatment, the fungal infection will spread to the ankle joints, and then to the shins. Mycosis also affects the nails.
Dozens of types of fungi that exist in nature can cause the development of fungal infections of the skin of the legs. But in most cases, the occurrence of the disease is provoked by fungi from the series Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum.
Infection with yeast, mold or fungus Trichophyton rubru can also cause mycosis, but this is in rare cases. Over the past years, doctors from http://doctorvera-kaluga.ru/ have begun to come across such diseases as mixed infections, which arise as a result of the interaction of several types of fungi.
A sick person is always considered the carrier of the infection. After all, once in a favorable environment, fungi, contained even on the patient’s epithelial scales, begin to multiply very quickly, while maintaining their activity for a long time. Most often, mycosis can be “caught” in places where there are many people - baths or showers.
Not all patients realize that they are considered carriers of a fungal infection, since sometimes the symptoms may be mild and not cause suspicion.
Signs of mycosis largely depend on the type of fungus that affects the skin on the legs. At the time of infection with Trichophyton rubrum, areas of the skin are affected, and less often, tufts of hair on the patient’s legs.
Mycosis appears from the skin in the folds between the fingers, after which the process spreads to the back of the feet, soles and ankles. It is rare that vellus hair and nails are affected at the time of the lesion. A clear pattern of furrows will appear on the skin, and after this it becomes thick and dry.
In its clinical form, mycosis manifests itself as follows:
Mycosis, affecting the skin of the legs, is also accompanied by infection of the nails. However, at the very beginning of the stages of fungal disease, the nails may be intact. Many patients feel itching.
Skin peeling is observed in such a form of the disease as squamous. Maceration, slight swelling and redness are observed with the intertriginous form of mycosis. Surface cracks and erosions appear in the affected areas over time.
The intertriginous form of mycosis sometimes becomes dyshidrotic. It is in this case that several large blisters and many small blisters appear on the affected skin of the patient. Due to the opening of the tires, blisters form on the affected area with weeping surfaces of erosion. With this form of fungal disease, bacterial infection is observed, forming papules and pustules on the affected skin with purulent contents.
The appearance of pityriasis-like peeling and thickening of the skin indicates a squamous-hyperkeratotic type of fungal disease. At the same time, areas of callus appear, and the skin acquires a blue-violet tint.
Mycosis, caused by this type of fungus, mainly affects the skin of the feet. The disease is clinically very similar to rubromycosis, but exudative phenomena are most pronounced.
Unlike rubromycosis, mycosis often affects the toes and nails, especially the nails of the little finger and thumb. It is possible that more nails may be affected.
Elderly people and children most often suffer from mycosis. Hyperemia, maceration, and fine-plate peeling usually occur in children. There are cases when the skin pattern intensifies, although usually the skin on the soles may not change. More often than in adults, mycosis in children occurs in an exudative form.
Older people are more likely to suffer from a chronic form of mycosis. It is not uncommon for diseases to last for decades, throughout life, due to infection with mycosis at a young age.
The soles and interdigital folds are mainly affected. The patient's skin peels off, becomes bluish in color, and pronounced areas of hyperkaratosis appear in places of friction and pressure from shoes. It causes very severe pain as the skin thickens and cracks. A type of dystrophy with many nail lesions is almost always accompanied by onychomycosis in older people.
In order to identify the culture of the fungus and detect it, a series of laboratory tests are performed to diagnose mycosis on the legs. Differentiation of mycosis is very important to distinguish it from other lesions of the legs - keratoderma, psoriasis, dyshidrotic eczema.
In order to cure mycosis, it is necessary to carry out a complex and lengthy process. Treatment of the skin of the feet when affected by a fungal infection occurs in several stages:
The systematic use of baths with the addition of boric acid and potassium permanganate is very effective for relieving inflammation. To combat bacterial infections, ointments containing antibiotics and corticosteroids are used.
If hyperkeratosis is observed on the skin, then before using ointments it is worth removing various keratinized areas. To do this, use exfoliating agents, including salicylic petroleum jelly.
The use of local and systemic agents is the basis of antifungal therapy. The remedy for the treatment of mycosis should be selected individually. The most commonly used drugs are those containing terbinafine (Lamisil), as well as products based on ketoconazole (trade name Nizoral). Such preparations are available in the form of creams, sprays, ointments, and also for complex use in the form of tablets.
To combat mycosis, traditional medicine has preserved many different recipes, but they should be used in addition to a set of medications prescribed by a doctor.
Celandine gives an excellent effect in the treatment of mycosis. In case of illness, it is recommended to use a decoction of the plant for a course of baths. Celandine baths should be done daily, for at least half an hour, keeping your feet in a warm decoction. After preparing the decoction, celandine herb can be used to prepare compresses on the affected skin of the legs, adding natural apple cider vinegar to the squeezed herb. After this, the resulting pulp should be placed on the skin affected by the fungus, covered with cling film and secured with an elastic bandage. For the best effect, put a sock on your foot and keep the compress on all night, repeating a similar procedure every other day.
Garlic also helps in the fight against mycosis. To do this, several cloves of garlic are crushed, thoroughly ground, mixed in equal proportions with rendered fat (pork, goose) or soft butter. It is recommended to take a foot bath with sea salt before applying the ointment. Then apply the product to the affected skin of your feet.
To prevent mycosis, you should not develop chronic diseases, do not forget about personal hygiene and strengthen your immune system.
To reduce the likelihood of contracting mycosis, it is recommended:
Microscopic fungi coexist peacefully with humans until good neighborliness is disrupted by decreased immunity, infection, and the emergence of conditions for the proliferation of pathogens.
The fungus must be treated; it does not go away on its own and destroys the nail completely.
Onychomycosis occurs when infected with yeast-like, mold fungi, dermatophytes that cause trichophytosis, microsporia. Based on the location of the nail fungus, proximal, distal, superficial, and total mycosis are distinguished (photo).
With all types of fungus, characteristic changes in the plate are observed on the legs and arms.
With distal onychomycosis, the first signs of infection are found at the edge of the nail. If the spot appears in the middle part of the nail or at the cuticle itself, then the disease corresponds to stage 2-3.
At the beginning of infection, the nail becomes yellowish in color and loses transparency. A gap appears under the fingernail or toenail where fungi multiply.
As the fungus penetrates into the thickness of the nail, it thickens. In the later stages of the disease, the entire plate is affected, and its degeneration is observed.
When infected with dermatophytes, longitudinal grooves and yellowish spots appear on the nails. The nail folds become inflamed and red. In advanced conditions, pressing on the nail causes pain and discharge of pus.
Superficial mycosis of the nails (see photo) is observed only on the feet, usually the big toe is affected. A white spot appears on the nail, easily scraped off.
When affected by the yeast fungus candida (candidal onychomycosis), a black spot appears on the nail plate, the nail becomes thinner, and peels off completely.
The main symptom of mold fungus on the nails (mold onychomycosis) is a change in the color of the nail plate. The nail turns black, green or brown, and black dots and spots may appear on it.
Nail fungus is a contagious infectious disease. Men get sick more often, but go to the doctor less often. A patient with nail fungus disperses fungal spores along with skin particles through household items.
To become infected with a fungus, it is enough to use a shared towel once or walk on a damp mat in the shower.
Getting rid of fungus on your toenails is not as easy as getting infected with it. According to statistics, more than 30% of patients with mycosis develop nail fungus at home from a family member suffering from onychomycosis.
Changes in the nail are also possible due to injury. But more often the injuries themselves become the causes of infection.
A decrease in the barrier properties of the skin promotes infection by fungi. A slowdown in the rate of nail growth with a general deterioration in health also predisposes to the development of the disease.
Nails grow slowly in old age, in diseases accompanied by degeneration of the nail plate - lichen planus, psoriasis, eczema.
Rapid growth of nails is observed in children, so children practically do not get sick with fungus.
Fingernails grow twice as fast as toenails. Therefore, about 4/5 of all mycoses are caused by nail fungus and only 1/5 by fingernail fungus.
A predisposing factor for the appearance of fungus on the hands is degreasing the nail plate with detergents and trauma to the nail plate during manicure.
The occurrence of fungus on the feet is facilitated by wearing tight shoes, which compress the foot and prevent normal blood circulation in the foot.
Fungal nail diseases can be caused by careful care, nail trauma, infection during a pedicure, or complete neglect of foot hygiene or wearing wet shoes.
For active reproduction, fungi need moisture and a comfortable temperature regime. Fungi tolerate low temperatures; only their growth rate decreases.
Fungi die at a temperature of +75 o C. Simply ironing towels, bed linen, and socks reduces the risk of infection when living in the same apartment with a patient.
Diabetes mellitus, flat feet, and varicose veins predispose to the fungus.
The main threat to a person is another person; nail fungus is transmitted through direct contact or indirectly through contaminated objects.
Fitness centers are one of the sources of the spread of fungal infections. Exercise mats, showers, and exercise equipment are in common use, and if sanitary treatment is not maintained, they infect club visitors every day.
Animals with microsporia also pose a danger to humans.
Nail mycosis is a highly contagious disease that easily recurs if treatment is ineffective. The causative agents of nail fungus on the toes and hands are transmitted in a humid environment and tolerate low temperatures well.
Toenail fungus is often a consequence of foot fungus and is treated with antifungal medications at the same time.
The first symptoms of fungus are changes in the skin between the toes and on the feet. There is a burning sensation, itching in the affected area, the skin peels off, and painful cracks appear.
If left untreated, the fungus spreads to the toenails. The nail plate changes color, becomes dull, loses transparency, and flakes.
The shape of the nail also changes. The plate thickens and becomes deformed. Fungus grows rapidly under the nail. The nail bed, in response to the introduction of a fungal infection, becomes keratinized and thickens.
Subungual fungus at an advanced stage leads to the nail coming off. Signs of nail infection are manifested by increased burning, itching, pain in the nails, and a repulsive odor.
Fungus on the nails can appear as a result of fungal infection of the skin of the head and torso. Some symptoms of infection overlap with those of other diseases. Thus, fingernails thicken not only due to fungus, but also due to diseases of the heart, lungs, and liver.
The presence of toenail fungus can be determined by such signs as the appearance of the nail plate, the duration and nature of the changes. With fungus, grooves and stripes appear on the nails, the nail begins to crumble, peel, and thicken (as in the photo).
You can learn more about what nail fungus looks like in our next article: How to identify nail fungus from a photo.
Nail fungus is detected using a microscope. Before treating a fungus on the hands and feet, determine its type. To do this, crops are inoculated with nutrient solutions.
You can easily detect the fungus yourself using a dark solution of potassium permanganate.
Healthy areas of the nail are painted brown in a strong solution of potassium permanganate, while spots damaged by the fungus remain unchanged. A completely healthy nail should acquire a uniform brown color.
Fungal diseases of the nails can be treated with complex antifungal drugs in tablets and medicinal ointments. It is possible to be treated only with external means only at the beginning of the disease.
Special antifungal varnishes, creams, ointments for fungal infection are effective in combination with drugs for internal use.
Antimycotic drugs for the treatment of nail fungus are selected by the doctor based on the examination data of the patient.
If the nail is deeply affected by the fungus, it is necessary to resort to a treatment method such as removing the nail plate. The nail is removed mechanically or chemically.
Mechanical nail removal is a surgical procedure performed under pain relief. The chemical method is more gentle; the plate is removed within 3 days, applying a special patch to dissolve the stratum corneum.
Treatment of toenail fungus with external preparations is long-term; the product is applied to the affected nail for 6-12 months.
A good cure for fungus in the initial stages of onychomycosis is exoderil solution. The product is applied 1-2 times a day, the nail should be dry.
Loceryl is applied to nails every 3-4 days throughout the year. Batrafen varnish is applied every other day for the first 30 days, after 3-4 days for the next 30 days, and for another 30 days the drug is applied to the nails once a week.
To remove a diseased nail, nailevit and nogtemycin are used.
Mycospor ointments, Lamisil, Exoderil, Nizoral, Kanison are often prescribed for the treatment of fungal diseases of the toenails.
Advanced fungus is treated with antifungal tablets. Effective drugs against toenail fungus include the drugs fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, griseofulvin and their analogues.
The active antimycotic fluconazole contains diflucan, diflazon, mycomax, mycoflucan, mycosist, procanazole, fluconorm, flucostat, fungolon, fucis, ciscan.
Ketoconazole exhibits antifungal and antibacterial activity. Suppresses the growth and destroys streptococci, staphylococci, yeast, yeast-like fungi, dermatophytes. Analogs of ketoconazole include dermazole, livarol, mikanisal, mycozoral, nizoral, fungavis.
Itraconazole inhibits dermatophytes, yeasts, yeast-like fungi, and molds. The active component itraconazole is included in the composition of irunin, itrazole, itramikol, orungal, canditral, rumicosis, orungamin.
Terbinafine kills cells of mold fungi, dermatophytes, and some dimorphic fungi that exist in the form of budding cells and mycelium. Toenail fungus can also be treated with terbinafine analogs such as bramisil, lamisil, atifin, myconorm, terbizil.
Amphotericin B and its analog fungizone are active against almost all types of fungi. But the drug is highly toxic, has severe side effects, and is used only under the supervision of a doctor.
Almost all actinomycotics have side effects. Treatment of fungus on toenails with antifungal drugs can negatively affect the liver, kidneys, and blood composition.
The choice of antifungal drugs depends on the severity of the disease, location of the lesion, and type of fungus. The drugs of choice are griseofulvin, lamisil, nizoral, orungal.
Batrafen, Mycospor, and Loceryl are used externally.
Failures in the treatment of fungal toenail diseases may be due to slow growth of the nail plate.
The drug should act on the fungus throughout the treatment. If the concentration of the drug decreases over time below the therapeutic level, the fungus will survive and continue to destroy the nail.
Baths, solutions, ointments, compresses with medicinal plants are used against fungus. Some traditional medicine recipes are very effective.
So, the fungus does not like acid, so apple cider vinegar, wine vinegar, and sour kombucha are used against it.
Before you begin treating a nail affected by fungus, you need to soften it as best as possible. This is done with an aloe compress at night, golden mustache, and kombucha. Kombucha not only softens the nail, but also heals.
You can soften the nail with fundizol; this drug is applied to the nail 2 times a day as a compress.
Treatment with baths with soap and soda solution, a decoction of milkweed, celandine, and sea salt helps against fungal nail disease.
Potato peels are used to treat toenail fungus. It is boiled, then the finished peel is mashed in a saucepan, poured into a basin, the legs are lowered into it and steamed.
After the procedure, the feet are not wiped, they are lubricated with pork fat. Treatment is carried out until the signs of toenail fungus disappear.
To treat with vinegar, take a 9% vinegar solution and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:8, respectively. In case of advanced nail fungus, when treating men, the concentration of the solution should be increased, diluting vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:4.
First, the feet are steamed, cleaned of the remains of rough skin and calluses. Then the legs are lowered into a basin with a vinegar solution for 5 minutes.
Then wipe the affected areas of the nail, interdigital spaces, and adjacent areas of skin. Do 7 procedures every other day. Apple cider vinegar is considered an effective remedy against fungus.
Treatment of nail fungus with garlic consists of preparing a compress from a pulp of crushed cloves on the nail plate at night. The procedure is repeated every other day.
This folk method of treatment is effective, but has an unpleasant feature. The patient becomes so saturated with the garlic smell that those around him begin to suffer.
To treat fungus on toenails, you will need a 5% alcohol solution of iodine. The diseased nail is lubricated with iodine in the morning and evening for 3 weeks.
The method works, but the treatment takes a long time. You will have to walk around with yellow nails for more than six months. Iodine often causes skin irritation, accompanied by rashes.
Zvezdochka ointment, according to some reviews, also serves as a treatment for toenail fungus and helps along with proven medications. The asterisk is applied twice a day for 20 minutes, after which it is wiped dry, rinsing the feet.
Orange, tea tree, clove, and lavender oils help against fungus. The oil is applied to the affected area and under the nail. 2 times a day. Oils can be mixed, castor or undecylenic acid can be added to them.
Nail fungus is treated with propolis tincture, fir oil, and lemon pulp. Mycosis of fingernails (see photo) goes away when treated with coffee grounds.
Fungal diseases of the nails of the hands and feet respond to treatment with green soap and red fly agaric. To prevent the disease from returning, it is necessary to treat the apartment, especially the bathroom and hallway, with antifungal agents.
All household items, especially personal items, are disinfected. Shoes are treated with formaldehyde and 40% vinegar.
You can learn how to treat shoes from fungus in our article Treating shoes from fungus.
The floor and walls in the bathroom are wiped with a chloramine solution, socks and bed linen are boiled in a soap-soda solution.
To prevent onychomycosis, it is useful to wear clean cotton socks ironed with a hot iron every day.
Daily foot care should become a habit. Nails, heels, and interdigital folds of the feet should be washed cleanly, and all wounds and scratches should be promptly treated with antiseptics. Prevention includes measures to reduce foot sweating.
Caring for feet and toenails includes lubrication with softening and nourishing creams.
You cannot use someone else’s shoes, or walk barefoot in bathhouses, swimming pools, or gym locker rooms.
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Currently, fungal infections of the skin are becoming almost the most common dermatological disease. Dermatologists encounter this disease almost every day.
Fungal skin infections are in second place in terms of prevalence, second only to purulent skin diseases. Fungi that form on the skin cause a lot of trouble to a person, including an unpleasant appearance.
Fungal skin infections are a common name for a number of diseases that are caused by various types of fungi. All fungal pathogens have some similarities, but the methods and symptoms of infection for such diseases are different.
It is most favorable for fungi to develop in a slightly alkaline environment, but a normal environment should not be excluded either. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that fungi develop best in humidity, so excessive sweating and wet shoes can be an excellent start for the development of the disease .
As for appearance, fungal skin lesions can look different depending on their type. Almost all types of disease may have some similarities. Fungal diseases are accompanied by redness, peeling of the top layer of skin, and the formation of ulcers. Depending on their classification, the appearance of fungi has some differences.
Classification of fungal skin lesions:
A photo of the toes shows the degree of fungal infection.
As mentioned earlier, fungal infections can be of different types. Depending on the type, they appear on different parts of the body. There are also types that form on the internal organs of humans.
However, the following places are most often affected by the disease:
The most common type of skin fungal disease on the body is ringworm. It is popularly called ringworm. This type of fungus occurs on exposed areas of the body. Externally, it is a ring-shaped rash of a reddish hue.
Another common problem is the formation of fungus on the hands. Both adults and children experience this disease. Fungal hand infections are called mycosis.
Mycosis mainly affects people whose hands spend a long time in liquids. This can be a liquid intended for cooking, a liquid for cleaning a room, or a liquid for construction work. As a result of the lesion, the skin of the hands cracks and turns into a fragile but hard substance.
In medical terminology, nail fungus is called onychomycosis . Typically, such fungal diseases affect only the edge of the nail plate, but over time it spreads down to the very base of the nail. It takes a long time for the disease to spread.
As a result of onychomycosis, the nail changes color and begins to crumble. The skin tissue around the nail may also become thickened. After a long time, the nail can become so thick that it becomes painful to walk and wear tight shoes.
Toenails are more susceptible to disease than fingernails. Toenail fungus often occurs when there is ringworm on the soles of your feet and it has spread to the nails. Nail fungus can also occur as a result of weakening of the nail plate.
Foot fungus is usually called a skin lesion on the foot, as well as on the spaces between the toes. Very often, foot fungus spreads to the nails. Foot fungus is caused by infections of the skin by microscopic fungi. According to statistics, every 5 residents of Russia suffer from fungal foot disease .
In most cases, fungal foot disease is accompanied by peeling of the skin, the formation of layers of small scales in the upper layer of the epidermis, as well as severe itching. In some cases, foot fungus may be accompanied by an inflammatory process. In most cases, people become infected after visiting public places.
Fungus of the scalp is accompanied by a deterioration in the appearance of the hair. They become dry and brittle. Severe itching appears. Pink plaques may form on the scalp, which are covered with dry scales. If the disease is severely neglected and treatment is not started in time, then this can lead to the development of ulcers.
As for fungal formations on the face, at the initial stage they are very harmless, since the damage occurs in the dead cells of the upper layer of the epidermis. The disease process on the facial skin is characterized by loosening of the epidermis. Some areas of the skin may even begin to separate.
The most common type of fungal disease in the groin area is dermatophytosis . In most cases, it affects men. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the scrotum is in close contact with the thighs, creating the most favorable conditions for the development of fungal disease.
If women wear tight, tight clothes, this can also cause the disease. The disease is accompanied by severe itching and the appearance of a red rash in the groin area.
Shocking statistics - it has been established that more than 74% of skin diseases are a sign of infection with parasites (Ascaris, Giardia, Toxocara). Worms cause enormous harm to the body, and the first to suffer is our immune system, which must protect the body from various diseases. E. Malysheva shared the secret of how to quickly get rid of them and cleanse your skin, it turns out to be enough. Read more "
All types of fungal skin lesions are divided into different types, depending on the location. Each type of disease has its own level of danger for the human body.
The rarest form of the disease is systemic mycosis , which spreads not only to the skin, but also to internal organs. The most common are keratomycosis, dermatomycosis and candidiasis.
Frequent fungal diseases on the face:
Frequent fungal diseases on the head:
This type of disease affects the upper layer of the epidermis, as well as the hair. Keratomycosis does not affect the nail plates of the fingers and toes. Also, this type of fungal disease is not accompanied by an inflammatory process. The most common types of keratomycosis include lichen versicolor and trichosporia nodosum.
Diseases of this form of skin fungus mainly affect the hands, feet, abdominal area and back. Appendages are also affected - hair and nails. Almost all types of dermatophytosis are accompanied by an inflammatory process.
Among the diseases of this form of fungus you can most often find:
When suffering from diseases classified as candidiasis, mucous areas, skin, appendages, and internal organs are affected. The main causative agent is Candida fungus. The causes of the disease can be very different.
When suffering from candidiasis, inflammation of the mucous membranes, burning and dryness may occur. One of the most common diseases classified as candidiasis is thrush . As a rule, the female half of the population is affected by this disease. Almost 70% of women suffer from thrush.
Deep mycosis is a fairly rare occurrence. But diseases belonging to this classification are very dangerous. Deep mycosis is characterized by damage to the mucous membranes of the body, damage to subcutaneous tissues, as well as internal organs.
Depending on the depth of penetration of the fungus, deep mycoses are divided into:
This classification includes the following fungal skin diseases:
The main symptoms of fungal skin diseases:
If a fungal disease affects the scalp, then the main symptoms of the disease are crust formation and hair loss. Fungal diseases on the genitals are accompanied by a white coating of curd mass.
Treatment of fungal skin diseases is carried out in several ways, depending on the type. Only a doctor can prescribe treatment!
When resorting to folk remedies to combat fungal diseases, the following methods should be used:
To avoid fungal skin diseases, you should follow a number of preventive rules:
Various types of fungus on human feet are called mycoses . When the skin is affected, the disease is classified as a group of dermatomycosis (athlete's foot and trichophytosis), since derma is translated from Greek as skin. If the nail is affected, the disease is defined as onychomycosis. Most often, these diseases are complex.
Foot fungus is a widespread disease and is found all over the world. In most cases, it is more common in megacities than in villages. The risk group for foot fungus infection includes athletes, shower workers, and hot shop workers.
Children have thinner skin that is not protected from external factors, so they are also susceptible to mycoses. Another causative factor is increased sweating of the feet, as a result of diseases in the body or a congenital feature. Dermatologists believe that with age, the risk of contracting foot fungus increases.
Factors contributing to the disease:
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Ringworm of the feet is easily transmitted in public places from a sick person to a healthy person. Infection occurs through contact surfaces: floors, household and personal hygiene items, other people's shoes. The fungus is transmitted through direct contact and multiplies very quickly, which is why it is so easy to become infected. Situations of fungus transmission in hairdressing salons through tools during a pedicure, as well as towels, cannot be ruled out.
The disease affects the skin of the feet. It is especially common among men, as they spend most of their time in closed shoes. Frequent visits to gyms, baths, military service, where you do not always have to wear your shoe size - all this creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Pathogenic fungi benefit from unventilated areas and rooms for reproduction.
The spread of pathogenic flora occurs very quickly. The place where the fungus predominates is the toes and interdigital spaces. Saunas and baths are characterized by high humidity and high temperature, which is ideal for the development of pathogenic microflora.
Infection with fungus can be direct or indirect. You can become infected directly through direct contact with a sick person. Indirect contamination includes the use of household items used by an ill person.
The very first symptom of the disease is the appearance of skin scales in the foot area. Infection occurs through these elements. Increased sweating is a favorable factor for the proliferation of microbes, since the altered composition of sweat becomes a nutrient for the growth of pathogenic flora. Dirt and thread remnants from socks also collect between the toes. When fungal infection is added to the above factors, redness occurs there. The affected area begins to itch unbearably, causing discomfort to the person. The skin begins to peel off, causing painful cracks to appear. When walking, unpleasant pain occurs due to the presence of wounds on the skin of the foot. The skin begins to thicken, and nails may become involved in the pathological process.
If mycosis is not treated, it spreads and affects the nails, destroying them. The nail plate initially changes its color to a white tint. Subsequently, it may peel off. Voids form between the nail plate and the nail bed.
Fungus on the feet causes an unpleasant odor . In winter, when closed shoes are worn and the foot is not ventilated, the intensity of foot damage increases. To treat this pathology, an accurate and correct diagnosis is necessary, because there are many types of fungal pathogens.
There are different types of fungi and different diseases correspond to them. The four most common types of fungus that cause foot lesions are:
Athlete's foot and trichophytosis (rubromycosis) are skin diseases, which are collectively called mycoses of the feet, caused by parasitic fungi of the genus dermatophytes.
Fungi related to dermatophytes:
Molds that cause fungal diseases:
Yeast pathogenic fungi:
Since fungi love a warm and humid habitat, it means that these conditions must be disrupted in order to get rid of them. Therefore, to prevent fungus, feet should be clean and dry. It is important to change your socks and dry your shoes on time. There are special antiperspirants on sale that will block the development of pathogenic microflora. It is recommended to choose leather shoes to maintain normal metabolic processes between the feet and the environment. The foot will sweat less, and fungi will not have the conditions to multiply. It is advisable to wear socks at home, which you will take off and wash, while indoor shoes will accumulate germs and dirt.
It is necessary to use only your own things, since you do not know about the other person’s illnesses. Your immune system may not be able to cope with infectious agents and microbes and become infected. You need to air out your shoes more often. When visiting public places, it is advisable to take personal hygiene items and shoes with you. Never walk barefoot on the floor in swimming pools or showers. The use of prophylactic antifungal creams and ointments also helps. After all, swimming pools, locker rooms, saunas and other rooms with high humidity are breeding grounds for fungus. At home, it is better to avoid porous rugs in the bathroom.
Some people are more susceptible to this disease than others. This may be due to problems in the body, such as:
The specialist conducts a detailed examination of the foot and asks for complaints. Skin samples are taken from the patient to be tested for fungus. A skin fragment is obtained from a minor, specially made scratch on the foot. The nail for analysis is cut off from the area infected with the fungus. The presence of mycosis is determined by special tests . To identify the type of fungus, it is cultivated, that is, it is grown. In rare cases and in advanced stages of the disease, the patient may be prescribed a biopsy. In this case, the prepared material is studied under a microscope.
In order to get positive results from treatment, it is necessary to clarify the type of fungus and the presence of infections, if any, associated with it. The degree and area of damage is also taken into account.
The basis of membrane type treatment looks like applying antifungal drugs to the affected area . It is convenient to do this even at home. These medications stop the development of bacteria or slow down the spread of the disease. Many of these drugs can be bought at pharmacies without a prescription. The action of the substances occurs locally, at the site of application to the affected skin. It is important to monitor the dynamics of treatment, and if there is no improvement, the drug may not be suitable for you.
If there is no effect from the drug used, then it is necessary to consult a dermatologist again about prescribing another treatment. You may need to be prescribed a stronger drug. In especially severe cases of the disease, tablets are prescribed. Many drugs have side effects, so it is important to monitor your blood counts during treatment with pills. The fungus is very difficult to completely cure, as it tends to recur. Treatment should not be interrupted, otherwise the mushrooms may become resistant to the components of the medicine that affect them. During the treatment process, it is important to keep your feet clean and dry.
With a moccasin-like type of infection, onychomycosis very often occurs, that is, damage to the nails. Because the skin on the leg is thicker and it is more difficult for medications to penetrate, this disease is more difficult to cure. In this case, standard drugs “do not work” and additional therapy in the form of tablets is prescribed.
Onychomycosis is infection of the toenails by a fungus of the genus dermatophytes. The disease can also be caused by yeast-like and mold fungi.
There are several types of onychomycosis:
For the vesicular type, the doctor may prescribe removal of the tops of the blisters. Then all the liquid that flows out of them is blotted. This area is dried and an antifungal cream or a special compress is applied to it. If a bacterial infection is determined, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Sometimes the disease is accompanied by fever. Acute forms of infections are more treatable than chronic fungal and sluggish processes. In especially severe cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed. Antifungal drugs are taken until the patient is completely cured. It happens that not all of the fungus dies, and when the medications are discontinued, a relapse of the disease occurs.
If the patient is not treated, the disease will become chronic and he will develop a severe bacterial infection. In addition to the foot, the skin of the toes may also be involved in the disease.
Traditional medicine offers compresses and lotions using tea tree oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, and garlic to treat nail fungus. Washing with regular detergents does not always help kill pathogenic bacteria. To eliminate fungus from clothes, clothes should be washed in hot water or, if possible, boiled. It is recommended to use bleach and hot ironing.